Page 152 of Court of the Fae Princes

“You pretend all of this death and loss doesn’t hurt you. But I know it does. I know the truth. Your truth,” Prince Forrest calls out, halting her movement. “I saw the look on your face when you explained that your son was too weak to live among the inhabitants here. I saw your pain when you told my father your child was given back to the forest.”

Lady Grave turns back around, shock splashed on her face before her expression changes to one of acknowledgement. “You were a young boy when I saw your father. When I spoke of the child I lost.”

“I remember, and so do you. Why make more families go through that same pain? Why do more children need to be lost?” He’s standing as tall as he can now, and I see the pain it causes him.

Lady Grave turns again to walk away, but she pauses and looks back at him before saying, “I’m sorry. One day, you’ll understand.” And then she disappears like a wisp of smoke in the wind, in a way that shouldn’t be possible.

The realization that I’m dream sharing hits me. In real life, I’m on the road with Lady Nova. The princes are here in the House of Death. None of this is really happening, and yet, Prince Forrest will remember this too. Dream sharing with him and the other men is a blessing I shouldn’t ignore.

“Prince Forrest,” I whisper as I approach him, not wanting to scare him now that he’s alone.

He raises his head and the light in his eyes when he sees me is as bright as the sun, which makes me feel even worse. This man shouldn’t be this happy to see me. If he knew the truth about me not being his mate, he’d hate me for being the reason he ended up in this place. He’d hate me for not telling him the truth.

But I can’t focus on that now, because none of that helps me. My guilt won’t make his days any better, nor will it take his pain away. He deserves better.

“Cassia.” His voice is soft and gentle, like he’s not chained to a wall and bleeding. My heart aches at the sound of it. He can push aside everything he’s going through and all the pain he’s in to be gentle with me.

My assessment of this man was more than a little wrong.

“Prince Forrest, I’m here. Everything’s going to be okay, alright? I’m going to find all of you and get you out of here, and then you’ll be safely back home.” Tears sting my eyes, but I force a smile into place. There’s enough sadness in this dreary place; I don’t need to bring more.

“The barrier. I must keep the barrier in place, but we’re all too weak. Not just our bodies, but our magic. We can’t keep this up forever.”

“You won’t have to,” I promise, and my promise feels… powerful.

He doesn’t seem to hear me. “Being here has given me time to think about every way I messed things up. About all the ways I failed with you. You deserved better.”

My throat feels tight. “So you guys were as clumsy as incontinent badgers. It doesn’t make you terrible people. Stop worrying about our awkward wooing.”

“I can’t stop thinking about it. You’re my mate. My only mate.” And he sounds so damn defeated.

The truth lingers on my tongue. “If I forgive you, then you have to forgive yourself.”

“Never.”

I swallow around the lump in my throat. “Prince Forrest, you’re a mighty Fall Fae and I’m barely a fae at all. You’ve gone above and beyond on your wooing of me, sacrificing life and limb to get me back.”

He gives a little smile. “You’re amazing. Funny, smart, sweet, and caring. If you can love me half as much as you love your father and grandmother, I’ll be a lucky man. Offering our lives in exchange to the Keeper for finding you was worth it in all ways. To know you’re safe and cared for.”

My stomach lurches at the reminder that they’re in this predicament because of me. All of this, the impending war and their torture, is because I got kidnapped, and they needed to find me. All I had to do was say yes to them.

They don’t deserve this. None of us do.

Prince Forrest groans. The chains are hurting him, contorting him in awkward positions. I hate seeing him in them. I touch the chains, angry that they even exist, and they disappear. I gasp and have to react quickly as Forrest comes crashing down. Catching him, I lower him to the ground.

Our eyes meet, but we don’t need words. I lean in and our lips touch lightly like mirrors reflecting one another, the same want on both sides. The kiss only lasts a few seconds, but my soul soars. Part of the heaviness that has been resting on my chest eases, and when I pull away, I find myself missing him again.

“Prince Forrest, are you okay?” It’s a stupid question. Of course he isn’t, but I need to know.

“Call me Forrest,” he says with a smile. “You are my bride, after all.”

Our lips meet again, but this time it’s all consuming. He clings to me, his hands tangling in my hair as our mouths find each other again and again. And his lips taste like warmth, like marshmallows roasted over an open fire, homey and right.

Desire rears inside of me, and I want to make love to him. But even in this dream, he’s hurt. I can’t be the one to bring him more pain. So, I end our kiss, still clinging to him, letting the warmth of my body press against the chill of his own. Hating this horrible dark place.

Except is this where we need to be? “Where would you be if you could be anywhere right now?”

He speaks without hesitation. “With you in your room, where we first kissed.”

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